The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1887-06-17
CONFEDERATE BANNERS MUST
NOT BE GIVEN UP.
GENERAL FUTILE TEARS HIS SHIRT AND
TWO GOVERNORS HOWL.
President Cleveland Finds That the War Depart
ment Has No Power to Send the
Flags Home.


letter was sent to the Secretary of War
| by the Presidedt, to-day. in regard to
the disposition of the flags captured by
the Union forces during the late war:
Il have to-day considered with more
| care than when the subject was orally
presented to me the action of your de-
partment directing letters to be address
ed to the Governors of all the States Of
fering to return. if desired, to the loyal
States of the Union the flags captured
during the war of the rebellion by the
Confederate forces and afterwards
recovered by the Government troops;
and to the Confederate States, flags cap
tured by the Union forces, all of which
for many wears have been packed in
boxes and stored in the cellar and attic
of the War Department. 1 am of the
opinion that the return OF the flags I'm
the manner thus contemplated Is not
authorized by the existing law, nor justi-
fled as an executive act. L request,
therefore. that no further steps be taken
in the matter, except to examine and
make inventory of these flags and adopt
the proper measures for their preSen-
tation. Any directions as to the final
disposition of them should originate
with Congress. Yours truly,
''GROvER CLEVELAND.
The following statement with regard
to the Presidents action concerning the
proposed return of the battle flags was
made at the White House tonight to a
representative of the Associated Press:
when the question was proposed to
the President by the Adjutant General,
an important feature suggested was
the return to the loyal States of flags
which had been captured by the Con-
federates and retaken by our army at
the time of the collapse of the rebellion.
They with such Confederate flags
as had been captured from
the enemy by our troops, had
it was represented, for a long time lain
uncared for and neglected. packed away
in boxes in the cellar of the War De-
partment, and had been removed to the
attic as better place for their safe
keeping. The disposition of the flags,
which seemed to be answering no good
purpose where they We're, was the main
point. and consideration was presented
to the President that some of the flags
had been returned to loyal States upon
rest, if desired, might as well all be re-
turned together. The return of the
Confederate flags. which were with
the others that We're in the War De
partment was then suggested, but
there was not the slightest thought of
interfering in any way with the captur-
ed flags, now held, by any State.
1.-The fact was apparently received
with favor by the country, that lately in
one or more cases, Northern troops in
visiting their late antagonists at the
South, had returned to them flags which
had been captured in battle from those
whose hospltalities they were receiving.
The further fact that Northern troops,
who had within a short time, been visit
ing Southern battle fields, had spoken in
the warmest terms of the kind and
hospitable treatment he has received from
former Confederates: and the fact, too,
that soldiers from the North and South
were just gathering at Washington to
meet in friendly competition at the Ma
tional drill seemed to indicate that if
Union flags were returned to loyal
States which had lost them i'm battle, il
would not be inconsistent with the fra
ternal sentiment which seemed so pre-
valent to offer at the same time to the
Governors of States, formerly in the re-
bellion. the return of flags which We had
taken from their soldiers. The right
of the Department to make
these returns being questioned by the
President. such right was distinctly as
serted and precedents alleged; and there
upon his oral assent was given to the
proposed action.
The matter was dismissed from his
mind until comment thereupon, within
the last day or two. brought it again to
his attention, when, upon personally ex-
amining the law and considering the
subject more carefully. he satisfied him
self that no disposition or these flags
could be made without Congressional ac-
ton: whereupon he directed the suspen-
sion of operations by a letter, made pub
lie this evening.
At the request of Governor Foraker.
of Ohio, that counsel should be retained
to institute legal proceedings To enjoin
the return of the Confederate fagf to
the Governors of the Southern States.
General A. V. Boynton to-day selected
Samuel Shellabargar. of Ohio. and George
S. Buntwell. of Massachusetts. to take
charge of the case. These gentlemen
expected to have an application for
mandamus filed in the Supreme
Court of the District at l O'Clock
this afternoon but We're delayed
by the non-receipt of the neces-
sary telegram from Ohio. The papers
were based upon the claim that the Sec
retary of War was about to dispose of
public property without the authority of
law. The letter of the President made
further action by the attorneys unneces-
sary.
Sad but True.